National League Rugby Preview: Top half battles dominate the narrative as November draws to a close
Barnes' visit to Bury St Edmunds is the latest fixture between sides squabbling for position in National Two East
©Jonathan Knight
Key clashes towards the top of National One and all three National Two divisions headline the final round of November, while crucial fixtures at the other end of the standings offer teams an opportunity to climb away from danger.
National One
Following three successive defeats on the road, Plymouth Albion’s (3rd) win at Rams last weekend felt like a significant boost.
Albion have made no secret of their ambitions to climb the English rugby ladder, but on-field performances and results need to match those aspirations, and Round 10’s 34-15 win in Berkshire delivered on that front.
Plymouth now have the opportunity to back up that victory when league leaders Rotherham Titans (1st) visit Brickfields on Saturday.
Ryan Lamb’s side have been formidable at home, winning 10 of their last 11 matches - including an absorbing 23-20 triumph over Rotherham back in March - but the table-toppers will arrive in Devon battle-hardened.
Harvey Biljon’s troops needed every ounce of grit to secure a 24-19 win over fourth-placed Blackheath last time out, ensuring their minds are sharp ahead of this weekend’s clash.
With title rivals Rosslyn Park (2nd) slipping up at Clifton, the Titans reclaimed top spot and now hold a one-point lead at the summit whilst sitting seven clear of Plymouth.
So the league’s most potent attack (Rotherham - 400 points) goes up against the division’s best defence, and whoever emerges victorious on Saturday will head into December with crucial momentum on their side.
Rosslyn Park (2nd) may have one eye on Plymouth Albion’s clash with Rotherham, but Steve Neville and Kieran Power’s men will be keen to focus on their own response in Round 11.
The surprise result of last weekend - just their second defeat of the season, a 37-29 loss at ninth-placed Clifton - highlighted the continued strength of National One. For Park however, the attention now turns to bouncing back when they host Bishop’s Stortford (10th), who will head to The Rock with a spring in their step.
Stortford’s season has been reignited by two crucial home victories over Rams and Leicester Lions, but they know departing Rosslyn Park with a win is one of the toughest challenges in the league.
Park have won their last 17 matches on their own patch, though Bishop’s Stortford will be quick to remind us of last year’s near-miss as an 18-15 thriller had the hosts sweating until the final whistle.
Blackheath (4th) entertain Sedgley Park (7th) this weekend in a fixture the visitors won 25-22 last season, while fifth-placed Sale FC travel to Birmingham Moseley (14th), who slipped to the foot of the table last week.
Adam Balding’s side will have rued their kicking accuracy in Round 10’s 28-27 defeat at Sedgley Park, a match in which they outscored their opponents five tries to four.
Now, Moseley will be itching for a reaction, particularly as they approach a crucial Christmas period that sees them face three of the bottom six sides.
As it stands, just one point separates the bottom four, with Dings Crusaders (13th) and Leicester Lions (12th) in the other relegation places.
This weekend, Dings host the first Bristol derby of the season against Clifton (9th), who are enjoying a run of three consecutive wins, while Leicester Lions will aim to regroup when they host Rams (6th).
And finally, Leeds Tykes (11th), buoyed by their key 26-17 win over Dings last week, travel to Tonbridge Juddians (8th), who have won their last three at The Slade.
National Two North
Last weekend was a fascinating one towards the top of National Two North, and that theme looks set to continue in the run-up to Christmas, with some early festive crackers on the horizon.
Macclesfield’s breathless 29-28 win over Tynedale and the engrossing 17-17 draw between Fylde and Darlington Mowden Park set the tone, while league leaders Sheffield (1st) had to settle for a watching brief after their Round 10 fixture against Scunthorpe was postponed.
However, the only side with a 100 per cent record across National League Rugby are back in action this weekend as Sheffield travel to Tynedale (3rd).
Anthony Posa’s team are nine bonus point wins from nine, and this visit to the North-East is their latest away clash against one of the chasing pack.
Sheffield have already defeated both Fylde and Macclesfield on the road, and with a trip to second-placed Darlington Mowden Park looming in Round 13, a victory at Tynedale Park would be another big tick for the table-toppers.
But Tyne will have other ideas. The hosts have won all five of their home games so far and sit just two points off the play-off spot (and four behind Sheffield, who have a game in hand).
They will be eager to bounce back after last week’s late heartbreak at Macclesfield as they look to inflict the first loss of the term on the current league leaders - a result that could open up the title race.
Watching with interest may well be Darlington Mowden Park (2nd), who remain the closest challengers to Sheffield following their draw with Fylde last time out.
Had Junior Newton’s penalty with 40 seconds remaining gone a fraction to the right, DMP could have been heading into their final game of this block on an eight-match winning streak.
Nevertheless, they remain unbeaten since Round Two and will be confident of extending that run when they host second-from-bottom Hull (13th) on Saturday.
As for fourth-placed Macclesfield, they would have been ecstatic after their late surge defeated Tynedale last week and they will now look to build on that momentum when they visit an injury-hit Wharfedale (7th).
At the other end of the table, a key clash takes place at Heslam Park as bottom club Scunthorpe host Billingham (10th).
The Greens sit six points off Rossendale, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, and 11 behind Sheffield Tigers (11th). While Tony Wilkinson’s side do have a game in hand, claiming just their second win of the season would provide a huge boost.
Billingham, meanwhile, will be keen to continue their recent strong form against fellow bottom-half sides, having beaten Otley, Sheffield Tigers, and Rossendale in the past month or so.
However, all of those wins came at home so Peter Evans and Dan Finney’s men will be seeking their first away triumph of the season.
Elsewhere, 12th-placed Rossendale will aim to halt their slide and end a six-game losing streak when they host Hull Ionians (6th), a rejuvenated Sheffield Tigers (11th), fresh from a win over Hull Ionians, face Preston Grasshoppers (9th), while Otley (8th), winners of three of their last four matches, welcome Fylde (5th) to Cross Green.
National Two East
Supporters and those connected with Old Albanian (1st) might wonder why they don’t feature more prominently in our previews - and with good reason.
The league leaders have played some dazzling rugby over the first three months of the campaign and were at their sparkling best again in Round 10, shrugging off Esher to win 55-34.
That result marked their sixth consecutive victory and extended their lead at the summit to eight points ahead of a trip to Sevenoaks (13th) this weekend, but it is the squabble for second place that is becoming more and more intriguing.
Last weekend’s results left just four points separating Barnes (2nd) and Guernsey (7th), and with Guernsey unbeaten in seven games, that only goes to highlight the fierce competitiveness of National Two East.
The jostling looks set to continue in Round 11, with two key match-ups between four of the chasing pack: Barnes travel to Bury St Edmunds (6th), while Dorking (4th) are at Westcombe Park (5th).
Barnes returned to winning ways in Round 10 with a handsome 40-19 victory over Havant, but they will be keen to improve their away form after two wins and two defeats on the road so far.
As for Bury St Edmunds, their three-match winning streak was halted last week following a narrow 21-16 loss at Guernsey, dropping them from second to sixth in the standings.
With three of their next four games coming against table rivals, it could be a pivotal run-up to Christmas for James Shanahan’s troops.
Dorking’s trip to Westcombe Park also promises plenty.
Both sides are beginning to find their groove: Dorking have won three on the bounce, while ‘Combe’ boast five victories from their last six - a run that includes wins over Barnes and Bury St Edmunds. Expect a tight but high-quality affair at Goddington Dene.
Oundle (3rd) also fit the “form team” label, heading into this weekend with just one defeat in their last six. They travel to Esher (9th), who will be desperate to halt a run of five straight losses.
Meanwhile, Guernsey will look to stretch their unbeaten streak to eight matches, though it won’t be straightforward away at a resilient London Welsh (10th), who have collected the most bonus points across National League Rugby thus far (13).
In the bottom half, Havant (12th) and Henley (11th) collide at Hooks Lane, with both sides eager to enter December with a much-needed win.
Havant are still searching for their first victory since Round Two, while Henley once again came up short in Round 10 in what is becoming a pattern of narrow defeats.
Their 21-14 loss to Westcombe Park leaves them ahead of Havant, but only on points difference, which perhaps emphasises just how important this clash could be in Hampshire.
Elsewhere, bottom-of-the-table Oxford Harlequins (14th) host Canterbury (9th).
National Two West
Camborne’s (1st) first setback of the season in Round 10 felt like an agonising one.
After conceding a late try against Taunton Titans, the league leaders hit back immediately with a score of their own, leaving the result hanging on the final conversion.
However, Kyle Moyle’s attempt drifted wide, bringing an end to the Cherry and Whites’ perfect record.
The table-toppers will now be itching to respond on Saturday as their challenging run of fixtures continues with the visit of third-placed Barnstaple.
Following Camborne’s blip, Barum now sit just five points behind their hosts as the top three begin to form a leading pack.
Barnstaple are sticking with Luctonians (2nd) - who are only six miles up the road this weekend as they travel to Redruth (8th) - and Camborne, and their ability to stay in touch is a credit to the Chiefs.
However, the side promoted from Regional 1 South West last season now face their sternest test yet. Camborne have won their last 17 home matches and will be fired up to extend that formidable run in Round 11.
We mentioned that the top three are beginning to pull away from the rest of the division, with Hornets (4th) now 11 points adrift of Barnstaple, but that won’t concern Jon Richardson and Jack Gadd’s side too much, as they are once again putting together a strong National Two West campaign.
Last week’s win over fifth-placed Lymm extended their impressive home record, but Hornets are still hunting for that elusive away victory, something they will hope to secure when they travel to bottom-of-the-table Syston this weekend.
As for Lymm (5th), they return to Crouchley Lane to face a buoyant Taunton Titans (9th), while an in-form Hinckley (6th) - who have won their last three - are also in the North-West to take on Chester (11th), who are chasing a fifth straight victory at Hare Lane.
Elsewhere, Exeter University (10th) will look to build on last week’s emphatic yet key win over Syston when they visit Old Redcliffians (13th), with only three points separating the sides, while Loughborough Students (12th) entertain Cinderford (9th), aiming to secure a fourth consecutive home win.
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.jpg "Barnes are once again in the mix towards the top of National Two East")
